Under $50
dress | earrings | sunglasses | bag | shoes
Under $100
dress (also available in navy) | shoes | clutch | earrings
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Well, the easiest way to stay on budget with clothing is to buy a house! Dave and I have been recording every penny we’ve spent this month to stay on track with the budget we put in place. I’ve been fairly flexible with my spending for the longest time, especially in terms of a clothing budget, but that got quite the revamp this month. It’s hard to get wrapped up in a pretty dress when we have to allocate funds to things like paint and light fixtures. That’s not to say that I’m “banned” from spending money on myself; we’ve actually allowed each other $200 per month of no-questions-asked spending to buy whatever our hearts fancy. It’s just that I’m a lot pickier with my purchases when that $200 allowance is for anything fun for myself, which also includes things like coffee table books and expensive beauty products. (The regular drugstore brands are covered in our household budget.) In addition to the $200, we each have a smaller amount to put in a special savings account for splurges. I’m setting aside $25 per paycheck and any blog money toward the Gucci bag that has captured my fancy. With that in mind, I’ll do away with the quarterly budget next month and just report back on what I did add to my wardrobe.
I’m planning to also record our monthly house spending over on Curated Couple. I find it frustrating that many home blogs don’t disclose how much was spent to complete a project or decorate a room. So, I’ll spill the beans over there. It’ll be a monthly roundup with the decorative pieces we buy, along with the practical things like paint, electrical, and hardware. I’ll also be mindful of adding the total cost of completion to any “before and after” posts.
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get to the goods!
BUDGET
Second Quarter Budget: $685 ($850 with a $165 deficit from last quarter)
Spent in April: $298
Spent in May: $216
Spent in June: $100
Amount Remaining: $71
PURCHASED
See all of this year’s sartorial purchases here. I round the prices to the nearest dollar amount and reflect any discounts I applied.
GIFTED
As always, I want to be transparent about what I’ve received from companies for review or as part of a collaboration.
DIDN’T WORK OUT
Things I tried and didn’t love.
DAYDREAMING ABOUT
The items I just might add to my wardrobe next month.
Ugh. I swear, what didn’t I buy is a better question for this month’s shopping confessions. I used our trip to New Orleans as rationale for quite a few purchases early in the month and even then I was still on budget until our weekend in Chicago led me astray. What can I say? Nordstrom Rack will always get me when there’s a deal on a DVF wrap dress and Zara’s trendy pieces are just too good to pass up. I’ll subtract the deficit from next quarter’s budget to stay on track with my annual allotment.
BUDGET
First Quarter Budget: $850
Spent in January: $358 (decreased thanks to a Nordstrom price adjustment)
Spent in February: $256
Spent in March: $401
Amount Remaining: -$165
PURCHASED
See all of this year’s sartorial purchases here.
GIFTED
As always, I want to be transparent about what I’ve received from companies for review or as part of a collaboration.
DIDN’T WORK OUT
Things I tried and didn’t love.
DAYDREAMING ABOUT
The items I just might add to my wardrobe next month.
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I’ll be linking up with Fran!
You know how much I love a new dress and the holidays are the perfect excuse to shop for luxe, embellished pieces. Think: sequins, lace, satin, and velvet. I picked up this sequin dress to wear to Dave’s company holiday party in a couple of weeks. (It’s also available here and in plus sizes here and here.) I also love this long sleeve option and this colorful number. Looking for more colorful options? Try this sapphire velvet dress (the ruffle at the bust adds oomph to a small chest) or this playful jacquard option with mixed prints.
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image via
Under $50
H&M blouse | Sole Society sandals | H&M shorts | Panacea ring in grey and black | Lulu Frost bracelet | Amuse Society bag
Under $100
Trina Turk necklace | J.Crew top | Paula Mendoza ring | Lauren Merkin clutch | Trina Turk earrings | Soludos espadrilles | Splendid dress | Quay Australia sunglasses